Severe cyclonic storm 'Phailin', which forced the evacuation of over eight lakh people, left a trail of destruction in coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and disrupted communication lines before weakening considerably today. Odisha Revenue and Disaster Minister S N Patro said in Bhubaneshwar that though seven deaths have been reported in the State, they took place as uprooted trees fell on locals before the cyclone made a landfall.There were no major casualties though Phailin was no less than a super cyclone as large-scale evacuation of people to storm shelters prevented a repeat of the 1999 super cyclone that claimed nearly 10,000 lives.

The National Disaster Response Force also said no casualties have been reported so far due to the cyclone, bringing in its wake torrential rains and wind speeds of over 200 kmph in the state and in neighbouring north coastal Andhra Pradesh. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) vice-chairman M Shashidhar Reddy said, wind speed in Gopalpur where the eye of the cyclone passed through, has come down to 90-100 kmph at 8 am. He said, NDMA is still trying to assess the devastation caused by the disaster.

In Andhra Pradesh, relief operations have been launched in full swing as heavy rains coupled with strong winds continue to lash most parts of the coastal area.Srikakulam Collector Saurabh Gaur said 39 villages in the cyclone-affected areas are surrounded by water.

The teams of National Disaster Relief Force,NDRF, which is tasked to minimize the loss on all fronts, intensified their operations since morning while the Indian Navy has also been put on alert.

As a precautionary measure, power supply to some parts of the district was stopped as many electrical poles in those areas collapsed.Fishermen in coastal districts of the state have been advised not to venture into sea.The loss of agriculture and other properties is yet to be estimated.